On The Road Again

It hasn't been all that long, yet here I am home again. I think mom was missing me because it was rather short notice. Thankfully my job allows me to come for a visit whenever possible. Of course she claimed that she wanted me there for my nephew's birthday. Hey, it's as good an excuse as any. Besides, mom arraigned for him to have a Shetland pony, Mosey, give some rides. Apparently a woman she knows has a rescued pony and often takes the disabled children my mom deals with at work on rides.

So as usual I went overboard. It's crazy how much I like this little guy. He's just such a sweet happy boy. You can't be around him and not feel happy just to watch him. He's become the center of the world, as he should be. So when I come I naturally bring books and other goodies. He has a thing for stickers, so I always make sure to have a pack or two.

He loved the pony, he was just scared to ride it. So instead he lead it around by a rope while his friends rode. Of course as soon as the pony was put back into the trailer, he wanted his ride. Thankfully the wonderful woman brought Mosey back out for him.

He may not remember this birthday since it's only his third, but there's no way that I forget his smile. There's no way I forget his bear hug and the big growl he uses just for me. Well granted that's because I told him that giving big hugs meant you had to growl. As a side note, I also taught him where his parents put the batteries for some of his more obnoxious toys. His parents can thank me later.

"You make 'em, I amuse 'em." -- Dr. Theodore Seuss

Bah Love Bug

I've always hated Valentine's Day. I'm forever thankful that I'm with someone who thinks it's just as silly. I firmly believe that you should do those little things on normal days if you really want to show someone you care. I think she agrees because it's not uncommon for her to come home with a Dunkie iced tea for me for no reason at all.

However, we're not stupid, we celebrate the day after Valentine's Day with a passion, it's half off chocolate day! Now *that* is worth a celebration.

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie." -- Jim Davis

Year One Down

It's been one year. A whole year where half was spend getting biweekly updates about chemo treatments and radiation. Then another half of a year where my mother redefined tired. And yet, somehow she went to work every day but 4 days. She managed to see her grandson at least twice a month and nag me from across the country. A year of my dad being a shining example to all husbands on how to be supportive and take care of everything. It was a year that I really learned how much I care about my entire family. I'm glad it's over, but not as glad as I was today when I heard mom's tests were clean.

I can't wait for this year.

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Furry Face

Good writing touches you, makes you connect to it, and allows you to feel something. At times it comes from places I wouldn't expect. There's an ESPN writer that Dina reads. At one point she sent me a link to an article he wrote about his dog. Anyone whose ever had an animal can relate. By the end, I wiped away the tears and had an overwhelming urge to call my dad to ask about the puppy of doom. I miss my puppy, but I know she's happy where she is.

Leaving her in Tucson wasn't easy, yet I knew it was the best thing. She'd gotten used to dad and he, in his retirement, made her his best friend. I hate when leaving something you love behind is the best choice. Thankfully she remembers me. Each time I visit she climbs up me in an effort to sit on my shoulders. Though now she generally ends up laying on my chest.

"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater... suggest that he wear a tail." ~Fran Lebowitz

Make Way

Boston drivers make driving a contact sport. As soon as you buckle in you know you're flirting with danger. Sure, every city claims they have crappy drivers, but there really is no comparison. They have their hands glued to the horn, which is good because it helps to move people out of the way when you're driving on the sidewalk or cutting off a cop. I literally cannot drive for more than 10 mins without saying the phrase, "Holy shit, what a *insert colorful language*".

I always thought I was an average driver if not above average. Of course we all think that which is clearly why there are so many accidents. But I'm the stooge that allows people in before me and uses that odd invention, the turn signal. I even know how to merge. Merging alone sets me apart from everyone in Mass. They are physically incapable of speeding up to be able to merge into traffic without forcing every car on the road to slam on their breaks and the horn.

So you can imagine my shock when I watched these inconsiderate Massholes (as I fondly refer to them) stop at a traffic circle, aka death trap, to allow a meandering gaggle of geese to cross. Not one person honked, gave a finger, or cursed. One even smiled! I couldn't believe it, I almost had to check that I hadn't inadvertently crossed the state line.

It just proves that there's always time to stop and smell the roses... or smell the geese.

"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead." -- Mac McCleary

Riddle Me This

I've recently had the urge to write, or at least be creative in someway. I really don't know what's brought it on... well yes I do, I just don't know what to do about it.

Figuring out what to do about something is always harder than finding the problem. I could always try poking in Flash and making something for Whirled. For whatever reason, I'm more comfortable doing that. Perhaps the more geek there is in something, the higher the comfort level?

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." -- Georgia O'Keeffe

A Big Wheel Knocked on the Door

Holidays are so much better when there's a child getting presents. As you get older you forget how much fun ripping paper is, or hell how much fun playing in an empty box is. But kids remind you of all these things the moment they giggle and dive right into playing with the gift they got. The hug you get when they say thank you is even better.

I think I went a little over bored, but I dare anyone to blame me. You try resisting the impulse to get one more truck for the cutest boy on Earth before pointing fingers. Thankfully he's almost 3 so the toys aren't all that expensive. He's thrilled with a $1 finger puppet.

Anyway, my family likes to save big gifts and give them in goofy ways. So this year as presents were over a mysterious doorbell rang.

Riley: "Omeone's at da door!"
Me: "I think it's for you..." Who cares that it's the back door we're pointing at?
Riley: "No, Daddy gets doors cuz mailmen bring bills." Makes perfect sense, who wants those?
Me: "I'll come with you." We then go to the door and a red and yellow Big Wheel waiting with a big bow on it.
Riley: "Woah!"
Me: "I think it's for you, let's bring it in." We brought it inside and he just stared at it."
Riley: "That's not a bill Daddy!" If it were, I'd want bills like that.
His dad: "No, it's a Big Wheel and all yours." He then showed him how to get on it and they rode around the living room a bit. For the rest of the night at random points he'd just say, "Big wheel rang da door bell."

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." -- Albert Einstein